If the reports are correct that Israel has used drones to strike the military base in Isfahan, then Israel has chosen to strike back at Iran in a way that has been tried before, the Jerusalem Post reports in its analysis.

Long-range missiles are also likely to have been used, although initial reports point to an attack from inside Iran, which is more likely a drone attack.

In January 2023, despite Iran’s claims, a drone strike in Isfahan was assessed as successful, according to Western intelligence.

The report refers to Tehran’s standard practice of downplaying attacks Iran has received in the past, citing as an example that in this particular 2023 attack on a facility that develops advanced weapons there were four explosions at the site, which were also posted on social media.

Most Western intelligence agencies and Iranian sources credit the Mossad with similar successful attacks against Iran’s nuclear facility in July 2020, a different nuclear facility in Natanz in April 2021, another nuclear facility in Karaj in June 2021, and the destruction of approx. 120 or more Iranian drones by February 2022.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett later admitted publicly that he ordered the attack on Iran’s drone facilities in February 2022.

Iran’s constant tactic of denying attacks

All previous attacks have been tried by Tehran to downplay and were later forced to acknowledge the extent of the damage when satellite photos or other evidence emerged.

It is not yet clear whether the advanced weapons damaged are only equipment intended for conventional warfare, or may also be related to nuclear equipment, such as ballistic missiles or explosive equipment that can be used for both conventional and nuclear purposes. Anonymous sources said in January 2023 and also on Friday that the nuclear facilities have not been damaged.

If true, it would argue that Israel carried out a limited-scale response so as to limit greater Iranian retaliation while satisfying US and EU calls for de-escalation.

The Isfahan military base is used for both nuclear activities and weapons of conventional warfare.

Iran even at one point told the IAEA that some of the nuclear activities taking place at the Karaj nuclear facility until June 2021 had been moved to Isfahan.